Josh McDaniels ‘not concerned’ about Darren Waller absence ‘working his butt off’ to get back
Darren Waller has been out a while. He was out for a while early in camp, returned for one day, then was gone again. Soon after speculation grew louder about whether his absence might be contract related, Adam Schefter reported Waller’s issue was a hamstring.
Now, whether it’s his contract or his hamstring, there are questions as to whether Waller’s absence could bleed into the season. Head coach Josh McDaniels was asked if he was concerned about that.
“I am not concerned,” said McDaniels prior to Wednesday’s practice. “He’s doing everything he can to get out there as soon as he can be. I don’t want to make a prediction on whether he will or won’t be ready here in a few weeks, but I see him every day. He’s in every meeting, he’s doing everything he can to get out there as fast as possible. We don’t have that many guys that are in that boat right now. Darren’s certainly one of them. [He’s] working his butt off. He knows that he’s going to be a big part of this team and what we want to do and he’s right there. And like I said he’s in meetings. But I’m not concerned about it.”
This was a pretty standard answer from McDaniels when referencing the status of a player. For example, recently he similar of Johnathan Hankins and Bilal Nichols and the two were literally back the next practice.
If Waller’s return is coupled with him signing a new contract, then we might have some inkling that his absence was at very least about not risking injury without long term job security. But until then, we’ll just be left to speculate on the timeline for his injury rehab.
